Leave your individual pride at the door man
There are two strong ideologies in this world, individualism and collectivism. Both have greatly shaped our understanding of ourselves as well as society at large for over 100 years. Individualism can be seen as an outlook almost fueling the economic engine of the United States, many even going so far as to argue it is what makes them “exceptional”. While other countries such as those in Asia follow the tenets of a more collectivist approach valuing the community over the individual.
Before we get to knee deep in our opinions let us acknowledge something important as referenced in the first links I included. Individualism and collectivism are ideas from the 19th century, aka the 1800s. I know it’s old in relationship to who you are, but it’s not old in relationship to how long the earth has been in existence. The Sistine Chapel is older than the idea of individualism and that’s something you can actually physically touch; individualism is a concept made by…individuals. Both ideas act as responses to the same problem, when monarchies and empires fell, what was the appropriate way to organize society and distribute power fairly?
We are so far from monarchies holding power in the traditional ‘Game of Thrones’ sense of the word. We see power in a different light. Modern day power in society is not weld by inbred families with stolen jewels, it’s weld by people who made a million dollars off one strong piece of IP. Who needs King Henry VIII when you have Jeff Bezos?
A couple of weeks ago a dilema struck me like a bolt of lightning, during a pandemic how useful is individualism? Social distancing is only effective if we all do it. If there is only one person socially distancing themselves from others in public that person would just look like an idiot right? Surely this is one of those moments where collective action laughs in the face of individual effort.
From one quick Google search I discovered I was not the only person asking these types of questions. Turns out quite a bit of people are flirting with these ideas in the spoken word. One thing seems to be quite universal, everyone has an opinion on the idea of individualism. Yet when discussing a topic such as this I would like to make an important recommendation, leave your pride at the door.
Discussing individualism and its importance or lack thereof in a pandemic should not include the conversation of your individuality, we must be objective with this discussion.
An observation I have noticed in American publications on the topic of individualism during the pandemic often suggested an inherent assumption that individualism is a way of life, an American value in that sense. It seemed for that reason that certain publications were quick to point out which fellow Americans weren’t practicing this proper code of ethics (que the Far Left blaming the Far Right for the American downfall), rather than reflecting on the larger notion of adopting these ideas into the American ethos. It doesn’t seem to be an idea that is hitting Canadian airways just yet, but perhaps that’s because of an inherently different national identity.
1940s Canadian World War II poster by Phillip Surrey
During World War II citizens collectively worked together in the war effort. People came together, bought War Bonds, saved resources to send overseas and sacrificed for a greater good. That work albeit made by individuals had an impact because it was a collective effort. World War II was not won by one individual, it was won by a teams of individuals working together. In the face of a scentless assassin such as Covid 19 how can we continue to insist that individual efforts are what will solve this crisis?
Rights are important but they shouldn’t be taken for granted. To anyone who has screamed the importance of their individual rights during this time might I remind you that your ‘rights’ are a recent addition to society that you can thank the French Revolution for. There is no scientific or definitive proof of their inalienable nature, they are a political and philosophical idea. What rights have the Rohingya Muslim minority had in Myanmar over the past couple of years before we had this pandemic? Rights are an idea that privileged Westerns cop, but they are not unfortunately a universal truth.
In a matter of life and death for a large group of people, what makes any one person’s individual rights more valuable than the possibility of the death of thousands? It’s never feels real until it’s your mother, father, or grandparent, but why do we wait till then to change our minds?
I am not suggesting that we need to get rid of the individual entirely, rather suggesting a shift in our focus. Perhaps the collective action should include the recognition of individual efforts in its work. Or maybe everyone should just be more of a Canadian about it, politely respecting one another’s individual right to liberty while still working towards a collective good that hopefully leaves no one behind.
Title Image from QuickMeme.com
If you came to the bottom of this page for more information honey I have the page for you. Apart from the hyperlinks in this post, check out my sources here.
